Family to search for missing Australian man in Brazil

DETAILS have emerged about the argument the Australian backpacker had before he vanished without a trace in Rio de Janeiro.

THE Australian backpacker who disappeared without a trace from a Rio de Janeiro airport argued with his travelling companion over their next travel destination before he stormed off in anger and vanished.

The family of Perth man Rye Hunt, 25, says he had a verbal stoush with friend Mitch Sheppard over the pair’s travel plans, and were at Galeao International Airport to book a flight to Bolivia.

“They hadn’t booked a flight; they went to the airport with the intention of buying a ticket and looked online for flights,” Mr Hunt’s sister, Romany Brodribb, told news.com.au.

But when a fight erupted between the pair over the destination, Mr Hunt stormed off and was never to be seen again.

“They had a disagreement. My brother, as much as I love him to absolute bits, if he gets a bit grumpy about something he needs a little time to cool off sometimes,” Ms Brodribb said.

“I believe the disagreement had something to do with Bolivia and when they should be going and what they should do when they get there.

“He and Mitch had been travelling for seven weeks. It was the first disagreement they’d had in that time.”

Ms Brodribb suspects the long-time friends had the disagreement, Mr Hunt “got into a grump”, and Mr Sheppard suggested the pair “cool off” before meeting up in half an hour.

“I suspect that Rye probably was grumpy with Mitch and has left the airport and jumped,” Ms Brodribb said.

“The information is fairly sketchy. We know he was still in the city when he disappeared, but we haven’t been given an exact location of where.”

Mr Hunt had planned a six-month world trip with Mr Sheppard, starting in Thailand for two weeks, South and Central America for two months — including seven days in Cancun followed by a bus trip to Acapulco — before moving onto a two-month trip around Europe, finishing off in Munich, Germany, for Oktoberfest.

Now, no one knows where he is.

“I haven’t been at panic point throughout the process; I’ve tried to manage where my head’s at,” Ms Broddribb said.

“I think I need to be quite level-headed and pragmatic about this. Much as I would love to break down in a sobbing mess, that’s not going to help anyone and certainly not Rye.

“I’m 39 weeks’ pregnant, I’m trying very hard to keep my emotions in check for my own health.

“We all as a family — and (Mr Hunt’s girlfriend) Bonnie — we all remain really positive and confident that this will have a happy ending.”

WHERE THE BACKPACKER WAS SEEN LAST

Mr Hunt was last seen on CCTV footage at the airport after engaging in the fight with Mr Sheppard.

Mr Hunt went to “cool off” after the May 21 disagreement but vanished after footage revealed he hopped a taxi at the airport instead of meeting his mate to catch a flight to Bolivia.

It was 2:30pm local time in Rio.

The travelling duo had agreed to meet after half-an-hour, but in a strange twist Mr Hunt chose a new direction.

“We don’t have footage of him getting in to the taxi, I’m assuming the Brazilian authorities have footage, we just haven’t seen it,” confirmed Ms Brodribb.

“It’s not their job to keep us informed unfortunately.”

The CCTV footage shows Mr Hunt dressed in a green Boston Celtics basketball jersey, denim shorts, a black cap and carrying a large traveller’s backpack before he grabbed a cab.

“We believe Rye left the airport alive,” his family said in a joint statement. “We still do not know Rye’s current location.”

Tasmanian and West Australian police have been working with Brazilian authorities and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to find Mr Hunt.

He has not used his social media, email and bank accounts, and doesn’t appear to have used his phone since going missing nine days ago.

It comes as some of Mr Hunt’s belongings — including his camera, a laptop, and his blue and black traveller’s backpack — have been found.

It is unknown where those items were located exactly, as Brazilian authorities continue the hunt for the lost Aussie.

It is still unknown if his wallet, iPhone and passport were also located.

“We’ve asked for an itemised list of his effects that were found and specifically we’ve asked whether his iPhone, wallet and passport were included,” Ms Brodribb said.

“At the moment we do know his backpack, his laptop, camera and a few other items were found but those three things we’re particularly interested in knowing about.”

‘UNSURE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS’

Before embarking on the adventure, Mr Hunt posted that he was “leaving Western Australia indefinitely” and “was unsure of what the future has instore”.

Mr Hunt, from Hobart, posted a message to friends on Facebook on April 7 before the big trip, thanking “everyone that’s helped me out along the way”.

“Throwin’ a massive Shukkas out to all the gnarley dudes and ladies I met throughout my time in Kalgoorlie and Perth,” Mr Hunt wrote.

“Embarking on an adventure now to see the world over the next few months. unsure of what the future has instore for us, stay safe everybody, hope to see you all upon our return.”

Mr Sheppard posted on April 6: “What are the chances! Today we are leaving Australia, on an adventure to travel parts of Asia, South America and Europe.

“So I guess we’ll see everyone on the back end of this bender. Until then stay safe every body and we’ll see you when we get back”.

After a successful GoFundMe campaign, which has so far raised more than AU$35,000, Mr Hunt’s uncle and girlfriend, Bonnie Cuthbert, will fly to Brazil to co-ordinate the search later this week.

The brother of Mr Sheppard will also go to offer support.

Mr Hunt grew up in Tasmania and had been working in Kalgoorlie until he left the country on April 1.

He is an experienced traveller, having also visited Southeast Asia and New Zealand.

A social media campaign to #findrye has been shared across Australia and South America.

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